I recently celebrated my 58th birthday, which is the same age my mother was when she died. I still have many plans for things to do and places to go. It makes me sad for all the things my Mom had to miss. She never got to go to Europe, which she always wanted to do. When the doctors told her that her time was limited, the first thing she looked at me, stunned, and said, "I'll never get to go to Europe." I wanted to buy diamond rings for her, buy her a new car that wouldn't break down all the time, pay off all her bills, and take her all over the world, but I didn't get that chance. She deserved so much more than she got. I take comfort in thinking that her karma has been cleansed from this reality, and her subsequent life will be easier and more enjoyable. She also told me she wanted me to be happy, so I made a conscious daily decision to be satisfied. That is my gift to Mom. I have seen her in dreams since she died, and she looks happy and healthy. I know I will see her again.
I've been reading books about near-death experiences, and the people in them all seem to have very similar experiences: they watch people trying to revive them, they see episodes from their lives where their lives had a negative or a positive effect on others, and how their lives affected others. They then meet up with loved family members, friends, and pets that had already crossed over and were waiting for them. Everything happens with a sense of joy and pure love, and the people are almost always reluctant to go back to their bodies to live on further, but their guides have told them that they still have work to do and things to accomplish. This is a constant in many religions and is comforting to me. This is how I choose to look at death and whatever happens afterward. You too can believe whatever you like.
I'm not religious, but I respect people who are, except when they try to argue or convince me that their way is the only way to live and die. I prefer to think that we are all tied to the Earth and the universe and we should make the most of our lives here: treat others positively, take care of the Earth and the animals, and leave a suitable planet for future children to live in, whether we have children or not. You shouldn't think you don't have to care about things that don't affect you or someone you love. Everything affects all of us down the line. It may not affect you, but it will affect your grandchildren and their grandchildren. That should be reason enough to do better.
